Chrysanthemum plant

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant with flat decorative capitulum which is a sport of the cultivar Firebrand (unpatented), being distinguished from the parent cultivar by its golden bronze ray floret color.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name of Garden's Bronze.

Garden's Bronze is a spontaneous mutation of the unpatented cultivar Firebrand and was selected to expand the color range of the parental variety.

Garden's Bronze was discovered and selected by Camilo Herrera V. on Feb. 10, 1971 as one plant with a flowering block of Firebrand at Jardines de Los Andes, Bogota, Columbia. The first act of asexual reproduction of Garden's Bronze was accomplished on May 10, 1971 when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in Bogota, Columbia by Reinaldo Saavedra working under formulations established and supervised by Camilo Herrera V.

Horticultural examination of selected units initiated May 1, 1977 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Garden's Bronze are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of ,sexual reproduction.

Garden's Bronze has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown in Bogota, Columbia and Salinas, Calif. under environmental conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Garden's Bronze which in combination distinguish this chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Decorative capitulum type.

(2) Flat capitulum form.

(3) Golden bronze ray floret color.

(4) Diameter across face of inflorescence ranging from 90 to 115 mm. at maturity.

(5) Uniform ten week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

(6) Tall plant height (requires 1-2 long day weeks prior to short days to attain a flowered plant height of 77 to 82 cm. when grown as a single stem plant for April through November flowerings in Salinas, Calif.).

(7) Semi-upright branching pattern.

The accompanying color photographic drawing comprising sheet 1 shows typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of Garden's Bronze. Some difficulty was encountered in obtaining accurate color representation, the photographic rendition being more yellow, or less bronze than the actual flower color of Garden's Bronze. The color readings within the following description are, however, correct. Sheet 2 is a black and white photographic showing the spray formation of Garden's Bronze.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors the most similar existing cultivars in comparison to Garden's Bronze is the parental cultivar Firebrand.

Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certain characteristics of Garden's Bronze with the same characteristics of Firebrand. In comparison to Firebrand, Garden's Bronze has different ray floret color. Other characteristics of Garden's Bronze are similar to those same characteristics of Firebrand.

In the following description, color references are made to A Limit Color Cascade, published by the Munsell Company, 1972 edition. The color values were determined between 9:00 A.M. and 9:30 A.M. on June 22, 1978 under 200 foot-candle light intensity at Salinas, Calif.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Garden's Bronze.

I. INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Decorative.

Permanence.--14 to 18 days.

Diameter across face.--90 to 115 mm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (abaxial).--28-9 overlaid heavily with 31-13 (immature) oxidizing to 28-9 streaked lightly with 31-13 (mature).

Color (adaxial).--30-11 over 28-3.

Color (immature center).--31-13.

C. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

II. PLANT

A. General appearance: Semi-upright branching patterns; tall height.

B. Foliage:

Color (abaxial).--Approximately 21-15.

Color (adaxial).--Approximately 21-14 overlaid with white.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                         COMPARISON OF GARDEN'S BRONZE AND FIREBRAND                                                     Dia-                                                                           meter                                                                          Across              Flower-                                                                              Capit-                                               Face                ing   ulum                                       Ray       of            Branch-                                                                              Res-  Form                                       Floret    Capit-  Plant ing   ponse and                                 Cultivar                                                                              Color     ulum    Height                                                                               Pattern                                                                              Period                                                                               Type                                ______________________________________                                         Garden's                                                                              Golden    90 to   Tall, Semi- 10    Flat                                Bronze Bronze    115     77 to upright                                                                              week  De-                                                  mm.     82 cm.            cora-                                                                          tive                                Fire-  Red       90 to   Tall  Semi- 10    Flat                                brand  Bronze    115     77 to upright                                                                              week  De-                                                  mm.     82 cm.            cora-                                                                          tive                                COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN IN BOGATA,                                    COLUMBIA AND SALINAS, CALIFORNIA.                                              ______________________________________                                     

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium; Ramat., known by the cultivar name Garden's Bronze and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of decorative capitulum type; flat capitulum form; golden bronze ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum from 90 to 115 mm. at maturity; uniform ten week response to photoperiodic short-day control; tall plant height; and semi-upright branching pattern. 